HKScan Sweden and PIC establish a joint venture for the Hampshire breed
The collaboration gives HKScan access to PIC's expertise and cutting-edge technologies, which in turn creates excellent opportunities to further improve the characteristics of its Hampshire line and thus good development prospects for Swedish pig breeding in general.
Hampshire breeding in Sweden is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and this sire breed is now absolutely dominant in the Swedish terminal boar market with a market share of almost 70%. In other words, the breed is highly valued - it is robust, healthy, calm and well suited to Swedish pig production. Hampshires are also exported to the UK, Norway, Belgium and Denmark, where it is used in special branded meat programs, among others.
“We are proud and pleased to be able to start this collaboration with PIC and also that they see such great potential in this breed with their world-leading know-how. The collaboration opens up completely new opportunities for us to further develop both Hampshire and Swedish pig farming, which in turn creates good conditions for the future of Swedish pig farming in general”, said Magnus Lindholm, Vice President Animal Sourcing at HKScan Sweden.
Breeding work currently takes place in two herds in Sweden and one in Norway. In connection with the start of the collaboration with PIC, an expansion investment will also be made in one of these farms, Esered's Farm in Halland, where construction of a new stable will begin in 2024. The investment in the new stable enables more efficient production with even higher biosecurity. The aim is a significantly larger Hampshire population, therefore a larger breeding base and, as a result, greater and faster genetic progress.
"I'm excited to start building the new stable! It will be a real boost and a big step forward for the company and for Swedish pig farming anyway", said Anders Lorentzon, operations manager at Esered's Farm.
Today, PIC is the world's leading swine genetics company, operating in a variety of countries worldwide. PIC is a pioneer and world leader in applying scientific advances to practical pig breeding, such as: B genomic selection and the use of digital technologies to assess the feet and legs of pigs. PIC offers a diversified portfolio of breeding lines and products tailored to the needs of different markets. Now PIC is expanding its product portfolio by integrating HKScan's Hampshire.
"We see great development potential, both for the Nordic market in general and for the Hampshire breed, and look forward to the opportunity to contribute to an even stronger and more competitive Swedish pig industry in the future", says Jack Keane, European Business Development Manager at PIC.
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